This is a wonderful training opportunity for mental health carers. Participants will be awarded a certificate of completion. It is therefore vital that you are able to commit to attending on each of the four, three hour sessions. Places are limited to 16 participants, so if you wish to undertake the training please reserve your place as soon as possible by phoning Rosie on 6299 9900 or email mhcarers@carersact.org.au.

Mental Illness Education ACT - Do NO Harm Training - February 2013

On Tuesday 26 February Carers ACT invited carer representatives to participate in an exciting training workshop with Mental Illness Education ACT. MIEACT runs activities, within the Canberra community, working towards mental health promotion and stigma reduction. If you haven’t come across this organisation, check out the MIEACT website at: http://www.mieact.org.au/.

WHAT? Do NO Harm Workshop

WHY? To validate the power of telling one’s story, and to provide strategies for telling one’s story in a way that is safe for you and safe for your audience.

Basically, ‘do NO harm’ means that we never talk about the means, methods or details; but wealways, always talk about the effects from trauma on our lives - our health, work-life and relationships with others. Most importantly, we always talk about what we are doing to overcome the effects of the events in our lives - what we do to stay well, work and have meaningful relationships...By talking about complex issues in this way, we ensure that our re-telling - our own storytelling - is not traumatising for others, or would give people in our audience ideas about methods or means – especially to those who may be vulnerable to suggestion. Click here for background information on "Do NO Harm".

The MIEACT training for carer representatives was adapted to likely scenarios that carers may encounter, e.g. in the committee setting, in a public forum, etc. MIEACT provided all participants with a copy of the Do No Harm Manual. We had full attendance on the night and the feedback from carers was that is was a really worthwhile workshop. The MIEACT trainers also commented that they learn't a lot from working with carers!

Upcoming training

Media training will be coming up shortly for carer representatives

In June 2013 we will be holding a comprehensive training event for all carer representatives, details will be available in April.